>mechanically they have as many moving parts as an ICE so it's actually a disadvantage
I'm not sure this is true. They're talking about hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles here, not hydrogen-burning ICEs. So a fuel cell (which I believe has no moving parts at all) converts hydrogen to electricity, and from there the rest of the drivetrain is basically like an EV. In effect, you're using a tank of hydrogen gas as a crappy battery that can only discharge.
>what's the big deal with hydrogen cars?
Oil companies like them because it means that they stay relevant: you can generate hydrogen from fossil fuels pretty easily, plus this keeps them in position as necessary for fueling your car: instead of having to go to a Chevron station for gasoline, now you go to that same station for hydrogen. You don't get power from your electric utility to run your car, which makes the oil companies obsolete.
I'm not sure this is true. They're talking about hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles here, not hydrogen-burning ICEs. So a fuel cell (which I believe has no moving parts at all) converts hydrogen to electricity, and from there the rest of the drivetrain is basically like an EV. In effect, you're using a tank of hydrogen gas as a crappy battery that can only discharge.
>what's the big deal with hydrogen cars?
Oil companies like them because it means that they stay relevant: you can generate hydrogen from fossil fuels pretty easily, plus this keeps them in position as necessary for fueling your car: instead of having to go to a Chevron station for gasoline, now you go to that same station for hydrogen. You don't get power from your electric utility to run your car, which makes the oil companies obsolete.